DNAs are groups of 3-5 people of the same gender who meet often to read the Bible, pray, and point each other to Jesus. “DNA” stands for discover (the good news about Jesus), nurture one another through prayer, encouragement, and pointing each other to Jesus, and act (respond together to God’s Word for us).

If you would like to be in a DNA, we recommend you start by getting to know others at Reach by joining a Group. As you make friends at Reach in a Group, or by serving with a Sunday Serve Team and hosting or attending Meet-ups, you’ll find your people to grow together with in a DNA.

Now the ball’s in your court. DNAs are self-started. Invite some others to join your DNA and use this page to help you get started.

If you are currently in a Group and desire to be in a DNA, talk to your Group leader about joining an existing DNA or starting a new one!

No! 😊 If you are still considering Jesus, we absolutely welcome you to join a Group and DNA at Reach. These are spaces that we will joyfully come alongside you and encourage and support you in your discovery of Jesus.

DNAs are led by a servant-hearted point person. As the point person for a DNA, you set the tone for the group’s atmosphere through serving — you’re not the mentor or teacher. A DNA’s point person helps coordinate the DNA meeting schedule and helps facilitate conversation when needed.

We’ve found that the ideal size is 3 to 5 people – you and 2 to 4 other people. If you have more than 5 folks in a DNA, it might be time to launch a new DNA out of your existing one to make space for more people to have community.

Every DNA is built around prioritizing prayer, reading the Bible together, and pointing one another to Jesus. While DNAs are intended to be flexible in structure, feel free to use our DNA Guides to jumpstart your conversation. Below is an example of what DNA can look like:

• Open with prayer.
• Have a time of intentional conversation by briefly sharing the highs and lows of the week.
• Read the Bible together. Here are some good questions to consider:
           1. What are you hearing from God, and what are you doing about it?
           2. What is God teaching you, and how is it affecting your life?
           3. Is there a promise to claim?
           4. Is there an action or attitude to avoid?
           5. Is there a principle to apply?
• Spend a few moments asking questions and encouraging one another in your relationship with Jesus.
• Share prayer requests and close with prayer.

Ideally, you should meet weekly or bi-weekly for about an hour to an hour and a half. This frequency does not prohibit you from connecting with one another throughout the week, as many DNAs have text/chat conversations happening throughout the week between meetings. Being a disciple of Jesus together is a way of life, not a program.

Homes, restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, diners, and even Zoom (online) are all possible venues for DNAs to meet. Find a place that is convenient for everyone, and sometimes privacy is helpful when folks are sharing their story.

While Groups help you find a wider community of friends to have fun, share meals, serve and grow with, DNAs help you grow more deeply in relationship with Jesus with a few close friends. They are a more personal space to be fully known and to know others. DNAs make disciples who then go on to make more disciples.

Meet-ups are events hosted by people at Reach that bring folks together to create meaningful friendships around the things they love. Meet-ups are generally a one-time (though sometimes recurring) gathering bringing folks together around a mutual interest or activity that create connections and friendships.

There is no shame in not knowing all of the answers to every question, and you are not alone! If a question or situation arises in your DNA that you don’t know how to address, that’s a great opportunity to connect with your Group Leader or Reach’s Care team for support.

Begin with the end in mind. The goal is for the men and the women in DNAs to both grow and disciple others themselves. Life changes can unexpectedly happen, but generally, plan for your DNA to always be on a path toward multiplication. If your DNA has grown to more than five people, or you all have more friends you know would love to be invited to your DNA, it may be time to pray about multiplying. Reach will continue to grow, and we always want to be making space for new believers to grow in their relationship with Jesus through DNAs.

You are not required to take attendance at your DNA, but we do recommend a mutually agreed expectation that all participants in a DNA will prioritize your time together.